50 TROUT FISHING 



and having regained rude health, seek the rapid 

 current, delighting in its very opposition, and 

 gambolling amidst its turbulent waves in perfect 

 enjoyment of life. The precise time when these 

 changes in localities, in habits, and in health 

 occur, varies, I believe, in almost every stream ; 

 some, as I have said, being earlier, and some later 

 than others; but speaking in a general rule, I 

 may say that the trout in North Devon are in 

 good condition in the end of February, or be- 

 ginning of March, and remain in a healthy state 

 till the end of August ; so that fly-fishing may be 

 legitimately pursued from February till the end 

 of August. All the trout will not, in February, 

 be found in perfect condition, but many will ; 

 and, if the season be warm, good sport may be 

 expected in the end of February. Late fish when 

 captured should always be thrown in again, as 

 they are wholly unfit for table, and disgrace a 

 fisher man's basket. 



In the spring of the year, as in February, the 

 brooks are, from rain and snow, usually very high ; 

 the water seems to come lashing and dashing 

 along in one determined, unbroken, and most 

 violent course; the inequalities of the bottom, from 

 rocks, &c., are as yet, with so large a volume of 

 water, insufficient to divide, pond back, or retard 

 the impetuous stream : and though its surface is 

 thrown into waves, and its body forms whirlpools, 

 the insignificant opposition of presumptuous 

 stones but increases its raging and turbulence, 

 and,, bounding as it were from trifling hindrances, 



